Bullet swaging attachment for reloading press



Aug. 17, 1965 s. SANTOMIERI BULLET SWAGING ATTACHMENT FOR RELOADING PRESS Filed May 6, 1964 INVENTOR.

LOUIS S. SANTOMIERI Ma V k? \Q.|HHI4| rl II L 7 3 M ,33% a m f F/G.l

ATTO NEY United States Patent [rrll 3,2llll,695 BULLET SWAGHNG ATTAUHMENT FUR RELQADXNG PRES Louis S. Santornieri, lll'i'o Valle Vista, Vallcio, Calif. Filed May 6, H64, Ser. No. 365,428 6 ttjlaims. (Cl. 85-1) This invention relates generally to apparatus for manufacturing bullets, and more particularly is directed to an apparatus for swaging or press forming the head of a bullet.

Gun enthusiasts quite frequently have a hand operated bullet reloading press which enables old cartridges to be reformed, refilled with powder and secured to a bullet head. The construction of bullet heads, however, has heretofore necessitated a separate bullet swaging press which is used solely for the operation of making the bullet head. The additional cost of a swaging press in many instances results in the gun enthusiast having only a reloading press, which is more frequently used than the swaging apparatus.

Prior bullet swaging presses have utilized tubular die members in which the bullet is formed, with a piston disposed inside the tubular member for ejecting the bullet after it is formed. Heretofore, however, it has been the practice to use a hammer or similar object to knock the piston against the bullet to cause its ejection, and this sharp abuse has been found eventually to cause damage to the precision bore walls of the tubular die member in which the bullet is formed.

Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide a bullet swaging attachment for use with a conventional hand operated bullet reloading press, which attachment can be procured at a significantly lower cost than a separate hand operated bullet swaging press.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an attachment of the type described wherein the conventional reloading press is used in conjunction with the bullet swaging operation for quick removal of the bullet after it is formed Without causing damage to the swaging die.

A further object of the invention is to provide an attachment of the character described in which the force or pressure for the swaging operation is provided through means of a rack and pinion and in such manner as to provide a far greater force or pressure than afforded in conventional presses.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawing and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to said drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a partial cross sectional view of a bullet swaging attachment embodying the present invention and shown as connected to a hand operated reloading press.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentry cross sectional view taken along the plane of line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary partially cross sectioned elevation view illustrating a bullet as formed within a bullet swaging die and press.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

FlG-URE 5 is a cross sectional plan view taken along the plane of line 5-5 shown in FIGURE 4.

A conventional reloading press is illustrated in FIG- URE l and is seen to include a base frame ll having spaced confronting upper and lower portions 12 and 32%,695 Eatented Aug. 17, 1965 "ice A vertically extending bore 14- is providcd in the lower portion 13 and a piston 16 is slidably mounted in the bore 1 for reciprocating vertical movement. Lever means such as a bell crank lever arm 1'7 pivotally mounted on the frame and connected to the piston 16 by a link 18 is used for actuating the piston. A threaded bore 39 is provided in the upper portion 12, and is vertically disposed in alignment with the piston 16. In the normal use of the structure as described thus far, a die (not shown) is secured in the threaded bore 19 in confronting and coacting relation with the piston 16, on which is provided a suitable head (not shown) for the particular die. Movement of the piston 16 serves to force a cartridge and bullet upwardly into the die to reconstruct or reload a complete bullet shell.

In accordance with the present invention, an attachment bullet swaging press 21 is arranged to be securely mounted on top of the upper portion 12, and held in place by means hereinafter explained. A bottom plate 24 of the press 21 has an aperture 26 disposed in alignment with the threaded bore 19, and a ram member 27 is slidably mounted on the press 21 for vertical movement in alignment with the bore 19. A conventional bullet swaging die 28 is threadedly mounted in the bore 19 intermediate the ram member 27 and reloading press piston 16.

In more detail with regard to the swaging die 28, the lat er includes a generally tubular member 29 having an externally threaded surface for threaded engagement with the bore 19. A knurled nut 31 can be screwed on the top of the member 2% to secure the press 21 in position as shown on tie reloading press frame Ill, and also locks the die against rotation. The tubular member 29 has a vertically extending cylindrical bore 32 disposed in its upper end, and a lower end wall 33 having a vertical bore 34 therein of smaller diameter than the bore 32. The bore 32 is precision formed to the diameter of the caliber bullet to be swaged. An ejector piston 36 is slidably mounted in bore 32, and has a rod 37 extending from the lower end thereof through the bore 34 and into confronting relation with the piston 16. A knob 38 is secured to the lower end of the rod 37 for engagement with the piston Member 23 is preferably formed with a knurled portion 35 at the lower end.

As regards the press 21 as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the press includes a press frame 3% of generally angular configuration and having a guide portion 4t) disposed in upwardly spaced confronting relation with the die 28. The ram member 27 is slidably mounted in a vertical bore 41 provided in the guide portion 40, and has a vertically extending rack gear 42. A pinion gear 43 is rotatably mounted between laterally spaced portions 4-4 and 46 of the frame 39, as best shown in FIGURE 2, and a lever arm 47 extends radially from the pinion gear to enable manual rotation thereof for effectuating vertical movement of the ram member 27. A die head 48 is secured adjacent the lower end of the ram member 27, and has a generally cylindrical exterior surface adapted to lit to close tolerance, within the bore 32. The die head 43 has a recess as in the lower surface thereof which is configured to produce the desired head shape of a bullet. Preferably, the die head 48 is removably attached to the ram member 27 to enable use of various different die heads as may be desired. In this regard, a laterally extending slot 51 is provided on the lower end of the ram member 27, as best seen in FIGURE 3, and an upper lateral flange 52 provided on the die head 48 enables the latter member to be inserted removably on the ram by engaging or" the flange 52. with the slot 51.

In operating the illustrated apparatus for swaging a bullet, a generally cylindrical piece of soft lead 53 is placed in a cup shaped cap 54, and these two pieces are inserted into the die bore 32 as shown in FIGURE 1. As is apparent, the piece of lead 53 has a much smaller diameter than the cap 54, and the outside diameter of the cap fits very closely within the bore 32. The lever 47 is then operated to bring the ram member 27 and die head 48 down towards the die 28. As the die head engages the upper end of the lead cylinder the latter is deformed downwardly and outwardly to conform exactly to the recess 49 and the walls of the bore 32. In particular, a bullet 56 is depicted in FIGURE 3 as being interposed between the die head 48 and the piston 36, the bullet 56 comprising the cap 54 and the newly formed piece of lead 53a. A narrow bore 57 is provided in the die head 48 in communication with the recess 49, as shown in FIGURE 3 to enable any excess lead to be extruded upwardly into the bore 57. The excess extruded portion of lead is easily removed from the bullet.

The ram 27 is removed upwardly from the bore 32 after the bullet has been formed, and the lever arm 17 then is pivoted downwardly to move the piston 16 upwardly into engagement with the rod 37. Movement of the rod 37 upwardly under the force of the piston 16 causes the newly formed bullet to be ejected smoothly from the bore 32 in a quick and simple manner.

It is noted that the lever arm 17, which is a bell crank lever, provides sufficient force for both cartridge reloading operations and for ejecting bullets in the swaging operation. The force required for swaging a bullet, however, must generally be greater than that provided by a bell crank of reasonable proportion. The above described rack and pinion lever arrangement is capable of providing the necessary high mechanical advantage for creating the large axial force required for the operation of the ram member 27.

The operation of the instant swaging apparatus is noted to be very simple in that the lead 53 and cap 54 are readily dropped into the bore 32. In this regard it is noted that in prior conventional bullet swaging devices the die 28 usually is mounted in an inverted position as compared to that shown in FIGURE 1. In such devices the die head 48 therefore usually is mounted on a piston similar to the piston 16 for movement upwardly into the bore 32. As a result, it is necessary to carefully manipulate the cap 54 and lead 53 into the bore 32 and hold it therein while the die head 48 is moved upwardly into engagement with the lead. Alternatively, the lead 53 can be balanced on the die head 48 with the cap 54 on the upper end of the lead, while the die head is moved carefully upwardly until the cap and lead are within the bore 32. Thus the instant swaging apparatus is seen to improve in the ease and simplicity with which the cap and lead are inserted into the die. In the conventional swaging apparatus as just described, it will further be noted that the rod 37 extends upwardly from the die, and as already noted, in order to eject the bullet from the die it has been the practice to strike downwardly on the rod 37 with a hammer or similar tool. Scarring of the bore walls 32 eventually renders the die 28 inoperable as a result of this hammering operation, and thus it is seen that the instant apparatus remedies this problem through the use of the reloading press piston 16 which exerts a smooth and continuous force on the rod 37 for ejecting a bullet without damaging the die 28.

An alternative embodiment of the swaging press 21 is disclosed in FIGURES 4 and 5 wherein is illustrated a swaging press 21a having a frame 39a of generally tubular construction. The frame 39a is formed with a threaded lower opening 57 which can be used to mount the frame on the upper end portion of the threaded die 28, which can be extended upwardly above the nut 31. A portion 58 of the frame 39a preferably at the top is made of hexagonal construction so that a wrench can readily be used to tighten the frame in position. A cutout or window portion 59 is provided in the side wall of the frame 39a, and a ram member 27a is slidably disposed in the frame 39a for vertical reciprocating movement therein. The window 59 provides access to the lower end of the ram member 27a so that the die head 48 can be secured thereon in the manner described hereinabove with regard to the first embodiment. A horizontally extending boss 62 is provided on the frame 39a, and is of hollow construction so that a pinion gear can be mounted therein which is similar to the pinion gear 43 described hereinabove. A lever 47 can be secured to the pinion gear also in a similar manner to that described hereinabove. The swaging press 21a is seen to be very compact and thus readily stored, and also is easily mounted or removed from the reloading press frame 11 to enable either bullet swaging or reloading. Annular shim members of suitable thickness such as the member 61 disclosed in FIGURE 4 can be interposed between the frame 3a and the knurled nut 31 on the die member 28 to assure that the frame 39a is suitably oriented in relation to the frame 11.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that the reloading press can be used for its normal operation of reloading cartridges Without any interference from the instant swaging attachment. Moreover, the swaging press can be readily adapted for use simply by removing the reloading die and inserting the swaging die 28 in the threaded bore 19. Thus the same basic frame 11 serves to house both a reloading press and a swaging press, with the reloading press serving the additional function of ejecting bullets from the swaging die.

What is claimed is:

1. In a bullet reloading press having a base frame including spaced rigidly connected upper and lower portions, a first piston slidably mounted on said lower portion for reciprocating vertical movement in confronting relation with said upper portion, said upper portion being adapted to have removably mounted thereon a bullet reloading die in confronting relation with said piston and lever means for reciprocating said piston, a bullet swaging attachment comprising, in combination, a tubular member removably mounted on said upper portion and having a vertical bore disposed in alignment with said first piston, a second piston disposed in said bore for sliding movement therein, means for coupling said first piston to said second piston for moving the latter upwardly in said bore, a press frame mounted on said upper portion, a ram member mounted on said press frame for vertical slidable movement in alignment with said bore and in confronting relation with the upper end thereof, a bullet swaging die head provided on the lower end of said ram member and adapted to fit downwardly into said bore, and second lever means for reciprocating said ram member.

2. In combination with a bullet reloading press having a base frame including spaced confronting upper and lower portions, a first piston slidably mounted on said lower portion for reciprocating vertical movement in confronting relation with said upper portion, a lever arm pivotally mounted on said base frame and connected to said piston for imparting vertical movement thereto, and said upper portion having a threaded vertical bore therein adapted to receive a bullet reloading die for disposition in confronting relation with said piston, a bullet swaging attachment comprising, a tubular member having external threads for engaging said bore in said upper portion, said tubular member having a lower end wall with a vertical bore therein of smaller diameter than the inside diameter of said tubular member, a cylindrical bullet ejecting piston disposed in said tubular member for slidable movement therein, a rod extending from the lower end of said ejecting piston through said bore in said end wall and having its lower end disposed in confronting relation with said first piston, 21 press frame mounted on top of said upper portion, a ram member slidably mounted on said press frame for vertical movement in alignment with said bore in confronting relation with the upper end thereof, a die head removably mounted on the lower end of said ram member and being adapted to fit downwardly into said tubular member, and lever means mounted on said press frame for reciprocating said ram member thereon.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said ram member is provided with a horizontally extending slot adjacent the lower end thereof, and said die head having a lateral flange on the upper end thereof for engagement in said ram member slot for removably mounting said die head on said ram member.

4. Apparatus as described in claim 2 wherein said ram member has a vertically extending rack gear thereon, and wherein said lever means includes a pinion gear rotatably mounted on said press frame in engagement with said rack gear, and a lever arm secured to said pinion gear for rotation thereof.

5. Apparatus as described in claim 2 wherein said press frame is a second tubular member mounted on said upper portion in alignment with said first tubular member, said ram member being slidably mounted for vertical reciprocating movement in said second tubular member, said second tubular member having a portion of the side wall thereof cut away to provide access to the interior of said second tubular member for mounting said die head on said ram member.

6. Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said press frame is a second tubular member mounted on said upper portion in alignment with said first tubular member, said ram member being slidably mounted for vertical reciprocating movement in said second tubular member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 267,980 11/82 Greener 86-39 356,975 2/87 Badger 86-25 1,933,940 11/33 Sutton 8628 2,807,186 9/57 Veum 86-23 2,847,895 8/58 Huntington et al. 8623 2,958,924 11/60 Thacker 86-1 BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A BULLET RELOADING PRESS HAVING A BASE FRAME INCLUDING SPACED RIGIDLY CONNECTED UPPER AND LOWER PORTIONS, A FIRST PISTON SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON SAID LOWER PORTION FOR RECIPROCATING VERTICAL MOVEMENT IN CONFRONTING RELATION WITH SAID UPPER PORTION, SAID UPPER PORTION BEING ADAPTED TO HAVE REMOVABLY MOUNTED THEREON A BULLET RELOADING DIE IN CONFRONTING RELATION WITH SAID PISTON AND LEVER MEANS FOR RECIPROCATING SAID PISTON, A BULLET SWAGING ATTACHMENT COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A TUBULAR MEMBER REMOVABLY MOUNTED ON SAID UPPER PORTION AND HAVING A VERTICAL BORE DISPOSED IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID FIRST PISTON, A SECOND PISTON DISPOSED IN SAID BORE FOR SLIDING MOVEMENT THERE- 